The ‘Last Straw’ – Cinnamon’s city hotels reduce usage of plastic straws

In an effort to reduce harm to marine life and the overall usage of single-use plastic, Cinnamon’s city hotels have implemented its ‘Last Straw’ campaign beginning in the month of November.The city properties aim to change attitudes toward the plastic tool that is largely a convenience for most people.

All restaurants and bars at Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside and Cinnamon Red will display awareness posters and tent cards accordingly, informing guests that plastic straws will be provided only on request.  By doing so, the hotels hope to encourage guests to refrain from asking for straws and help in the long-term goals of reducing single-use plastics. 

Not only will the campaign reduce the hotels’ usage of single-use plastic, but will create awareness of the destruction caused to the environment and threats to marine life, both through guest awareness, as well as that of hotel staff.

What harm does a simple plastic straw cause in the first place? The reasons are many. Straws are most commonly made from type 5 plastic, or polypropylene. Although type 5 plastic can be recycled, it isn’t accepted by most recycling programs.Straws also easily find their way into oceans due to their lightweight nature. Once there, they do not biodegrade. Instead, they slowly fragment into smaller pieces known as microplastics, which are frequently mistaken for food by marine animals.